Piker20 0 Report post Posted March 7, 2013 Apologise if this is in the wrong section. I tried a search but didn't find anything related. I have two rods with no ring or wire to keep the hook in when travelling with a rod made up. I don't like using the cork handle to stick fly in. My Q is what have people found best to make their own? A ring or a length of wire? Is there a distance they need to be set from the handle to avoid affecting rod action? Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilverCreek 0 Report post Posted March 7, 2013 Apologise if this is in the wrong section. I tried a search but didn't find anything related.I have two rods with no ring or wire to keep the hook in when travelling with a rod made up. I don't like using the cork handle to stick fly in. My Q is what have people found best to make their own? A ring or a length of wire? Is there a distance they need to be set from the handle to avoid affecting rod action? Cheers Most rods no longer have a hook keeper because there is a better way. Pull out the leader so that you can bring it around the back side of the post of the reel seat, then pulled the leader back up towards the rod tip and hook the fly around one of the snake guides. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted March 7, 2013 I read somewhere once that the hooks can groove your rings if doing this? At the min I use the leg of the stripper guide and haven't noticed problems but it has put me off from way back when I read it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricF 0 Report post Posted March 7, 2013 I've never tried them, but several companies make "strap on" hook keepers: http://www.mudhole.com/Rod-Building/Hook-Keepers/Fuji-EZ-Keeper-II No idea how well they work.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capt Bob LeMay 0 Report post Posted March 7, 2013 piker, it might help to know that many guys who build their own rods (me included) wouldn't consider including a hookeeper - since it's just not needed. As noted above, pull your leader around the reel then place your fly on the foot (not the ring portion) of one of your stripping guides. If you reach far enough forward to hang that hook on a snake guide you'll quicly see that the hook in no where near the portion of the guide that the line touches... Tight lines, Bob LeMay (954) 435-5666 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hairwing 0 Report post Posted March 7, 2013 I loop mine around the reel and rod butt and up to a guide. What I consider a great advantage in using this method is to keep the fly line out beyond the tip top so you don't have to fight the line leader connection when the leader is inside the rod guides. Experienced fly rod fisherman can always relate to unhooking a fly from the rod hook keeper and having the leader and fly zip back through the guides, and if the fly is small enough, run down the snakes to the point it's PITA. That's my goal anyway...I wanna keep as much of the fly line out of the rod tip as possible readied for the next casting situation and how it's done is not a big deal to me....but I hook mine to a guide without worry that I will damage it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted March 8, 2013 Yeah the line being out of the tip is a big bonus. I'll forget the keeper and carry on with the rod rings (the stem bit). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryon Anderson 0 Report post Posted March 8, 2013 I have used the very smallest size snake guides as hook keepers on a few rods I've built. The first time I did it, I just didn't have a wire hook keeper. After I did it the first time, I decided the guide looked a little nicer than the little wire bent into a rectangular "loop" that rod building suppliers sell as hook keepers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites